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¿Question #4463?
mrbeankc: How important is a game having a strong theme to you?

pwilz: The only games I play with theme songe are Zooloretto and Isle of Skye.
Felimid: Very important if it has to do with weightlifting or flatulence.
Woelf: It's not essential, but a well-integrated theme can make a good game into a great game, and an awesome game into Merchants & Marauders.
ThatFedoraGuy: I actually prefer it to have all it's peices more.
ajax013: it definitely makes the game have a longer play-life at my house.
Hida Mann: Very. I'll play something with a good theme and bad mechanics.
Jayolas: Theme is very, very important. BUT the theme has to tie in well with the game and the mechanics need to fit the theme. Pasted on themes are worse than annoying...
Polgara: not necessary, but it can help (or hurt) depending on the type of game and the theme
arkibet: i'd say a 7 on a scale from 1 to 10
nastycleavage: is it fun is more important, so 3 out of 10
Kobold Curry Chef: It helps a lot.
Der Ubermolch: I really like abstracts, so theme isn't a requirement. But, a good theme goes a long way: see The Creature That Ate Sheboygan and The Arkham Horror.
qzhdad: what's a theme?
MeGrimlockKing: About 7 out of 10.
ZeroZilla: Theme is of primary importance, if a game is going to become a favorite of mine. I will often admire a game strictly for its rule-set, but the close it gets to abstract the less play-time it's likely to get from me and my group.
LazarusDarkeyes: It is highly encouraging.
amadan: it's a big plus. it cannot make or break a game for me by itself.
Megadev: not very
xianrotide: I believe I enjoy the game more. However, I do love abstract games as well.
jackolantern: It doesn't need to have a strong theme, but the games i like best, do.
DHEK: Moderately important. The stronger the theme, the better.
Admiral Fisher: A lot. Most of the games I really like have a strong theme.
Runes: Quite important
ColtsFan76: ranks in the top 3 for sure
Geosphere: Very. Although abstracts are good too. Go all or none.
aleo09: somewhat important. but not entirely.
Beyak: not at all, but if it is going to have one it ought to be strong
MightyMike: Very, otherwise I won't sit down to play.
sanbikinoraion: Very. It helps to 'get in character'. I'm not so big on abstract games.
pethulhu: very, very, very important (and keep this e&t from me)
spamspam2: not at all
ansc1023: semi-important
MaksimSmelchak: Good gameplay is more important than a good theme, but having a good theme helps quite a bit.
SisyphusX: Mildly. Enjoyment is king.
zappothedude: somewhat
Nekura: Depends on the game. Some are better for it. I still enjoy abstract strategy games if they're fun. (Igel Agern is a good example.)
vampywife: a strong theme is great if it's made to play well.
ciscokidnj: Depends on the game, but I think it always improves it.
h1ff: Depends on the fun mechanic. If the game is a blast to play, I could care less about the theme. If its not as much fun, but has a strong premise, it makes up for it. But a fun game with an awesome premise...is a sight to behold.
scriptorum: Theme is nice.
miyazakigrognard: Define "theme" and I'll answer your question.
mlanza: Very, though there are games with weaker themes are quite good.
Chris Page: Fairly important, but not necessary.
Helenoftroy: Very important. Read my review of Risk: Godstorm or Shakespeare. Theme is vital for games for me but there has to be an interesting game behind a theme.
zombiegod: Very
gironha: I like the theme, but it doesn't have to be strong. Better than a strong smell.
brainrob: 50 - 75 percent
LemonyFresh: Rather important
Riff: Any plausable theme is nice. A mapping of game concepts to real world concepts is all that is needed.
Archvile: Pretty important.
skrutsch: 3.8 out of 5
mrbeankc: very
ZombyDawg: Pretty near absolute. Since my favorite type of game is about military history anything that isn't a wargame or historical just seems a bit less interesting. Of course, I have played some games that (according to that criteria) were totally stupid and had a lot of fun. It's just that they really don't catch my interest.
shawn_low: VERY.
Werebear: Not terribly.
jasta6: important!
Loquutus: not that important
Recneps: Fairly, as in very.
Twkw: Very
fFish: quite important
Odat: It can make things more interesting, but I find the core mechanics are what interest me the most.
dietevil: Not really, but it helps
zackdale: semi
MochaKimono: Important.
erli: Not very. I like games that are challenging regardless of their themes.
Yollege: no biggie
ssmooth: The so-called "theme" can add to the amusement value of the activity. I like pictures of sailing ships, for example.
beakermyers: Been there, answered this question before
Dave: I like having a mix of great games and games with engaging themes.
dakarp: Not at all, usually.
POvidiusNaso: Not very. Anything that doesn't look like a pure abstract.
GuyHill: not very
jttm: Don't really care
chaddyboy_2000: A theme is good, but good gameplay is better.
Karlsen: Reasonably important
CDRodeffer: If it's a theme game, I'd rather the theme and mechanics be strongly intertwined. But I'm very happy with abstracts as well.
skelebone: I'm indifferent to theme.
Spielfreak: Theme is important, as part of the appeal of games is that they are an escape from normal life.
Lord_Prussian: Not as important as a good rules set, but important
puffinge: not very
CortexBomb: Not important